Michelle Nicole Matlock is a performing artist, creative coach, teacher, director, producer and founder of Circle Up Productions (CUP), a live entertainment and performing arts education company based in Tacoma, WA.

Michelle has been a part of the entertainment industry for over 25 years and had the honor of being the first African American Person to create a main character for Cirque du Soleil. They toured with Cirque's big top show OVO for close to 10 years.

Currently Michelle is an Adjunct faculty member at Dell’Arte International School for Physical Theater and a member of the Puget Sound Revels creative team. Recently Michelle was Clown Director/Consultant for Circus Bella and Emmy nominated actress' Carolyn Ratteray’s solo show Both And…A Play About Laughing While Black.

Michelle has continuous teaching engagements and collaborations with organizations across the nation including, Clown Gym, Bindlestiff Family Cirkus, The Clown School, Laughter League, Circus Amok and Tacoma Light Trail

Michelle grew up in Tacoma, WA., studied theater for 3 years at Western Washington University in Bellingham, WA. and is a Graduate of the National Shakespeare Conservatory in New York City. 

A Little Deeper Dive…

Prior to Cirque du Soleil, Michelle spent 15 years as a performing artist, teacher and producer in New York City. During that time, they toured their critically acclaimed solo show The Mammy Project across North and South America and had the pleasure of working in the NY theater and circus scene, playing with Big Apple Circus, Circus Amok and The Bindlestiff Family Cirkus.

After Michelle graduation from the Conservatory she immediately began playing roles for Moonwork Inc., Fay Simpson’s Impact Theater and later The New Acting Company.  Michelle was hand picked to join Royal Caribbean Cruise Line’s Krooz Komic program, which is an interactive clown program aboard their Voyager Class ships. As a Krooz Komic She was introduced to the art of clowning, juggling and stilt walking. She then went on to clown for The Bindlestiff Family Cirkus and Circus Amok. She had the pleasure of being selected to clown for The Big Apple Circus Clown Care Unit, which brings classical circus to hospitalized children at pediatric facilities across the United States.

The Bindlestiff Family Cirkus gave Michelle their first opportunity to workshop their solo show, The Mammy Project, in front of an audience at their Palace Of Variety performance space on 42nd Street. She was given every Monday night for 12 weeks!  The Mammy Project was Produced by Performance Space 122 in New York City's East Village. The Mammy Project has since then been presented at Universities and theaters across the US, Canada and South America.

Michelle has had the honor of being selected for the Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation’s Artist and Communities Residency at The LGBT Center's Y.E.S. program in New York City. They developed and directed LGBT youth’s individual solo shows which were performed at Dance Theater Workshop (NYC).